Monday
Jan102011
A person may not use external felt-soled boots or external felt-soled waders in the waters of the state
Monday, January 10, 2011 at 12:00AM 
The state being Montana.
Bill LC1760 in Montana proposes banning felt in the state starting in October of 2012.
Felt would still be cool for some.
The provisions of this section do not apply to a state or federal employee or emergency personnel, including fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical technicians, using external felt-soled boots or external felt-soled waders when acting within the scope of duty.
Can't have the emergency personnel slipping in the river now can we?
tagged felt sole ban, invasive species in Announcements, News, Politics
felt sole ban, invasive species in Announcements, News, Politics
Reader Comments (11)
Alaska is only 1 year behind, although I'm thinking the emergency personnel provision doesn't apply up here. Unlucky.
VERY unlikely this will pass
what a crock o shit!! its not like invasive species cant live on the other part of the boots, waders. might as well ban wadding in the water to realy protect it!
You would think they might be bright enough to see the potential liability here, that State is run by a bunch of ten year olds.
The irony here is that any state or federal employee could be exempt from this provision in light of the fact that Montana's state fish, the Weststope cutthroat trout, is being eclipsed by what is arguably the most widespread AIS in history, the rainbow trout, a species that would in all likelihood would not be present in Montana if it weren't for the state and federal fish and wildlife agencies who introduced them.
not gonna happen...
Rubber Sucks
that was a federal introduction. and this is a huge problem. I've researched it personally and it is essentially irreversible. if you disagree, stay out of the state fish on. what are any of you doing to solve this problem?
I have done work with the Utah Division of natural resources, with the aquatic invasive species program. And I have had lunch with such people a Brian, the owner of Korkers wading boot company. You still have to clean, drain, and dry everything. And it is proven that the uppers of wading boot, take longer to dry then felt. So rubber is not the solution. Educating Anglers is. I sue rubber my self, and have for a long time. But banning felt wont stop a dumb ass, from being a dumb ass.
wait...doesn't everyone wear sandals wading in MT?
Its not the shoes that cause people to fall..its what in the shoes.
Felt is nearly impossible to clean/dry properly...and the sole of a boot is what's mostly in direct contact with the streambed.
I've been wearing vibram soles for a couple years now...no problems getting around, even better than felt out of the river...no more spills on wet grass and muddy banks.
Be part of the solution...not part of the problem.
Vibram is not better. I have been using is too, and it is too hard, and when you get into cold water, it gets harder. Felt is not hard to clean drain and dry. Put it in the freezer for 3 days and you are safe, no questions asked. Or dip it in a 409 solution, it is that easy. Now I am not protecting felt, but there is no reason to ban it. Besides, even if you have rubber souls, in the summer, it can still take 7-8 days of being dry to kill the spores. It doesn't matter what you use!